Rotary car dumper



R. GLOVER 2,542,660

Feb. 20, 1951 ROTARY CAR BUMPER l1 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 23, 1946 INVENTOR PC1 71 6/01 91" flaw M Feb. 20, 1951 R. L. GLOVER 2,542,660

ROTARY CAR DUMPER Filed Sept. 25, 1946 l 1 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Robe/7L. 6/01/er' Ala,

R. L. GLOVER ROTARY CAR DUMPER Feb. 20, 1951 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 25, 1946 R. L. GLOVER ROTARY CAR DUMPER Feb. 20, 1951 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 23, 1946 Nm Q Feb. 20, 1951 R. L. GLOVER ,660

ROTARY CAR BUMPER Filed Sept. 23, 1946 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Feb. 20, 1951 R. GLOVER ,6

ROTARY CAR DUMPER Filed Sept. 23, 1946 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 I Robe/"fl. G/orer A4 A4 11 Sheets-Sheet 7 R. L. GLOVER ROTARY CAR BUMPER Feb. 20, 1951 Flled Sept 25 1946 Feb. 20, 1951 Filed Sept. 25, 1946 R. L. GLOVER ROTARY CAR DUMPER Y 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 Feb. 20, 1951 R. L. GLOVER ROTARY CAR DUMPER l1 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Sept. 25 1946 m m m 6 b 0 n Feb. 20, 1951 Filed Sept. 25, 1946 R. L. GLOVER ROTARY CAR DUMPER 11 Sheets-Sheet l0 INVENTOR AoberfL G/Ol l" Lxm Patented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARY CAR DUMPER Robert L. Glover, Poland, Ohio, assigner to The Car Dumper Corporation, Youngstown, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 23, 1946, Serial No. 698,697

2 companying drawings illustrating a, present preferred embodiment. In the drawings,

Figure l is a side elevation of my improved car dumper as viewed from the driving side;

car may be tilted sidewise for dumping. Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof as viewed Various forms of rotary car dumpers have been from the other or dumping side; known heretofore and it is the general object of Figure 3 is a section taken along the plane of my invention to provide an improved dumper line III-III of Figure 1 showing the side sills, characterized by simplicity of construction and other parts being omitted for the sake of clearrapidity of operation. A-further object is to proness; vide a dumper having car clamps and side sills Figure 4 is a section similar to Figure 3 showing operating automatically to engage the top and the parts in dumping position; one side of a car as the cradle starts to rotate, Figure 5 is a partial section to enlarged scale, to hold the car in fixed position relative to the similar to Figure 3 but largely diagrammatic, cradle while it is inverted. I thus insure proper showing the construction of the side sills in clamping and side support of the cars regardless greater detail and the reeving of the ropes for of variations in their height and width. operating them;

In a preferred embodiment, my invention com- Figure 5A is a portion of Figure 5 to enlarged prises a rotary cradle including spaced rings conscale; nected by longitudinal frame members; car Figure 6 is a partial plan View showing one of clamps on both sides and adjacent each end of the side sills and associated parts; the cradle; and side sills on the dumping side of Figure 7 is a transverse section taken along the the cradle spaced along the length thereof. plane of line VIIVII of Figure 1' showing only Levers adapted to engage fixed abutments are one of the car clamps, viz., that on the dumping pivoted to the cradle for operating the clamps and side; side sills through ropes reeved over guide sheaves. Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing Other levers pivoted to the cradle and provided the parts in dumping position; with counterweights actuate locking means for Figure 9 shows the car clamp on the dumping securing the clamps and side sills in engagement side and the locking mechanism therefor to enwith the car. The locking means are automatilarged scale; cally released when the car is righted, and the Figure 10 is a partial side elevation correspondclamps are raised and the side sills withdrawn, ing to Figure 9; permitting immediate replacement of the empty Figure 11 is a section taken along the plane car with aloaded one. of line X[XI of Figure 10 showing the locking The locking means for the car clamps becomes mechanism for the clamp on the dumping side to effective only after rotation of the cradle through enlarged scale; a substantial angle, say 80. In this position of Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 showing the cradle, the car springs have been substanthe parts in dumping position; tially relieved of. the load of the car body and Figure 13 is a sectional view similar to Figure contents. This is necessary to facilitate disen- '7, taken along the plane of line XIII-XIII of gagement of the clamp-locking means when the Figure 1, showing the car clamp on the noncar is righted. I provide novel clamp-locking dumping side; means including a toothed bar adapted to be en- Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13 showing gaged by a rocking dog to hold the clamp in carthe parts in dumping position; engaging position when the cradle turns beyond Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 9 showthe 80 position. On further rotation of the ing the clamp on the non-dumping side; cradle, a counterweighted eccentric becomes ef- Figure 16 is a partial side elevation correspondfective to shift the dog to the extent necessary ing to Figure 15; to cause it to bear tightly against the tooth of Figure 17 is a sectional view taken along the the bar which is nearest the face of the dog when 59 p ane of line XVIIXVII of Figure 16 showing the clamp is arrested by engagement with the the locking means for the clamp on the nonside of the car. The car when clamped is thus dumping side to enlarged scale; and tightly held on the cradle against movement as Figure 18 is a view similar to Figure 17 showthe cradle turns to dumping position and back. ing the parts in dumping position. A similar toothed bar and pivoted dog serve to 5 Referring in detail to the drawings, the car lock each of the side sills in extended position as dumper of my invention comprises a cradle l0 soon as tilting of the cradle commences. adapted to be mounted on a foundation H in A complete understanding of the invention which are formed pockets or hoppers I2 for remay be obtained from the following detailed deceiving the material dumped from gondola or scription and explanation which refer to the ac- 60 hopper-bottom ears.

Cradle construction The cradle l comprises end rings l3 connected by longitudinal frame members 14, I5 and IE on the non-dumping side and similar members IT, IS and IS on the dumping side. The rings l3 are of box section and are fabricated from plate. tracks which engage supporting wheels 2| and 21a. The wheels 2| and 2m are journaled in pairs between spaced plates 22 pivotally mounted on bearings 23. The bearings 23 are supported by cross beams 24 embedded in the foundation H. The wheels 2|a have flanges which prevent axial movement of the cradle. Longitudinal beams 25 extending between and beyond therings l3 carry a movablerail section 26 adapted to be alined with fixed rails 2! on the foundation whereby railroad cars such as indicated at 28 may be entered into the cradle for dumping and removed therefrom. The cradle is rotated from its normal position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 to dumping position shown in Figure 4 by a rope 29 extending partway around one of the rings [3 and around a drum 30 driven by a motor and gear-reducer indicated at 3!. In all the figures of the drawings, the direction of rotation of the cradle to dump a car is counterclockwise, -as indicated by the arrow in Figure 3.

Vertically extending side sills 32 are mounted in spaced relation on the dumping side of the cradle for movement into engagement with the side of a car in the cradle to prevent lateral shifting of the latter as the cradle turns. Vertically reciprocable car clamps 33 are mounted adjacent the rings 13 on the dumping side of the cradle and similar clamps 34 are mounted on the other side of the cradle at points spaced inwardly from the clamps 33. The side sills and clamps are operated automatically by counterweights, levers and rope rigging to be described in detail shortly, in such manner that, when a car has been disposed within the cradle and the cradle started turning toward dumping position, the side sills first move into engagement with the dumping side of the car and are locked in extended position. After the cradle has rotated through an angle, say 80, such that the car springs have been substantially relieved from the load of the weight of the car body and contents, the car clamps descend until their overhanging hook portions 35 engage the upper edges of the sides of the car. The clamps are then looked in this position to hold the car firmly fixed relative to the cradle during continued rotation thereof to final dumping position. On reverse rotation of the cradle, the clamps are unlocked and raised automatically before the cradle returns to normal or starting position and the side sills are retracted as the return rotation is completed, thus freeing the car for removal and replacement by a loaded car.

Side sills and mechanism for operating and locking them The details of the construction of the side sills 32 are shown in Figures 5 and 6. As there illustrated, each sill 32 comprises a pair of parallel beams 36 having an angle 36a welded thereto and adapted to bear against one side of the car. The beams 35 are mounted on the common pivots 39 of upper and lower sets of toggle links 31 and 3B. The links 38 of the two sets are pivoted to fixed bearings 40 and 4| on pins 42 secured to the longitudinal members of the cradle 18 and I9,

They are provided with bearing The links 31 of the two sets are pivoted to a vertically slidable ratchet bar 43 by pins 44. The bar 43 slides up and down along a cross beam 45 extending between the upper and lower longitudinal members I! and I9. Angles d6 secured to the cross beam confine the bar 33 laterally. It will be apparent that when the bar 43 is permitted to descend between the angles 45, the sets of toggle links will advance the parallel beams 36 until the angle 35a strikes the side of the car or until the toggle links have been fully extended. Conversely, when the bar #3 is pulled up, the beams 35 will be retracted.

When the cradle is in normal position, the bar 43 is held in its uppermost position as shown in Figure 5, by a rope ll secured thereto. This rope is trained over a sheave 48 mounted on the upper longitudinal beam ll and extends thence downwardly around a guide sheave 49 mounted on the lower longitudinal beam It. The rope then extends around a sheave 58 to a sheave block 52.

A counterweight 5| slides on an arm 53 which is pivoted at 54 to one of the longitudinal beams 25. A rope 55 dead ended on the cradle at 55 is trained around a sheave 50' on the counterweight 5l. The rope then extends around a sheave 51 on the pivot 55 of the-arm 53. From sheave 57 the rope extends to a sheave 53 journaled on one of the beams 25 and thence around a sheave 59 journaled on a tilting lever 51). The lever 60 is pivoted to the cradle at 6| and has a roller 62 at its outer end adapted to engage a fixed abutment 63. From the sheave 59, the rope 55 extends around a guide sheave 64, around the sheave of block 52, thence around a second guide sheave 54- coaxial with the sheave 64. Both these sheaves are mounted on the cradle. The rope then extends upwardly around a guide sheave 65 on the cradle and around a sheave 66 mounted on the longitudinal member IQ of the cradle. From the sheave 66, the rope extends downwardly to a counterweight 5'! slidable between vertical guide rails 58 extending between cradle beams 14 and l5.

It will be apparent form Figure 5 that, when the cradle starts to tilt, the lever 68 turns clockwise about its pivot 5i, slacking the rope 55. This permits the block 52 to move to the left, lowering the bar 43. This causes the toggle links 31 and 38 to be extended and the beams 36 of the side sill to advance the angle 35a into engagement with the side of the car. After the sills have thus become seated against the car, further slacking of the rope 55 is taken up by counterweight 51 until the lever 80 reaches the limit of its tilting movement as shown in Figure 4. This may conveniently be a fixed mechanical stop (not shown). The weight of the beams 36 of the side sill and the bar 43 is much greater than that of the counterweight 5! 'so the latter will not start to descend until the sills have engaged the side of the car.

The bar 43 has its inner face toothed as at 69. A detent or pawl 70 is fixed to a shaft "ll pivoted in fixed bearings 40. A counterweight lever 12 is also secured to the shaft ll. When the cradle is in the normal position, the lever 12 tends to hold the detent away from the teeth 69. After the cradle has tilted through a small angle (about 30), however, the lever 12 swings clockwise and forces the detent into engagement with one of the teeth, thus locking the bar 43 against upward movement and preventing retraction of the side sills, It will be noted that assaeeo there are two groups of teeth'of different sizes, the upper group of teeth being larger or coarser than the lower group. This permits satisfactory locking of the sills, both in the initial portion of their travel in which the vertical movement of the bar .3 is relatively slight as well. as in the latter portion of the travel of the sills in which a considerable collapsing of the toggle links is necessary to extend the sills a given amount.

When the cradle is returned to normal position, the reverse swinging of lever 12 causes detent 70 to disengage the toothed surface of the bar 43. When the roller $2 on the lever 6E] strikes the abutment $3, the resulting counterclockwise movement of the lever causes the rope 55 to be taken up. The first result thereof is that the counterweight 5| is raised to the limit of its movement after which the rope 4'! is taken up to raise the bar .3 and retract the side sill. The

counterweight 61 is heavy enough to overcome the Weight of the side sill on the rope 61, considering that the former operates on a two-part line while the Weight of the side sill and its operating bar are effective through a single-part line. narily have much movement but prevents overstressing of either of the ropes in case the moving parts should be blocked by any obstruction.

Car clamps on dumping side and mechanism for operating and locking them The car clamps 33 and 34 on opposite sides of the cradle hold the car in place as the cradle rotates. The construction and operation of the clamps 33 will be explained by reference to Figures 7 through 12 showing a single clamp and its operating and locking mechanism. The clamp 33 slides up and down along a cross beam 15 extending between longitudinal members I! and It. A bracket i5 extending outwardly from the shank of the clamp carries a roller 11 which rides on the outer flange of the beam 15. The clamp is normally held in elevated position by a rope '58 secured to the lower end thereof and reeved in about the same manner as the rope 41' which operates the side sills. The rope passes over a guide sheave l9, thence under a sheave 8B. The end of the rope i8 is secured to a block 83. A rope 85 passing through the block 83 is reeved in exactly the same manner as the rope 55 and it is unnecessary, therefore, to repeat the detailed description thereof. The various parts are designated by the same reference numerals used in Figure 5.

It will be evident that, when the cradle is in normal position, as shown in Figure '7, the counterweight S! acting on the rope 84 and, through block 83 on rope 73, holds the clamp in its uppermost position. As soon as the cradle starts to turn, the movement of the lever 60 permits the counterweight S? to descend to the bottom of its path. Thereafter, further slacking of the rope 84 permits the clamp 33 to descend until the hook portion at engages the upper edge of the sde of the car. Further slacking of the rope 84 is taken up by movement of a. counterweight 8|.

The counterweight is slidable on an arm 82 pivoted to the cradle.

The clamp 33 is provided with a toothed or ratchet bar 85 adapted to be engaged by a locking detent or pawl after the cradle has been turned through a suffic ent angle, say 80, to relieve the car springs of the weight of the car body and contents. The locking mechanism is supported on spaced plates as secured to thelon- The counterweight 6? thus does not ordigitudinal member l8 and extending downwardly therefrom. A shaft 16a extending between the plates 86 across the inner face of the clamp shank is provided with a roller Ha. against which the clamp bears. Downwardly extending levers 87 having counterweights 81a thereon are pivoted to the plates 86 on a through pin 88 and are connected by a pin 89 rotatable in bearings carried by the levers. Bell cranks 90 are pivoted on the plates 8t on a pin 9! and have counterweights 92 on an arm, Sta. Upwardly extending levers 93 are pivoted to the plates 86 on a pin 94. The pin 54 passes through eccentric slots 95 in arms 36 of the bell cranks 98. The plates 86 have slots 85a generally parallel to the shank of the clamp 33 to permit movement of the pin Ed on rotation of the bell crank 90. The curvature of the slots 95 is such as to force the pin 94 downwardly on clockwise rotation of the arms 96.

A cross bar 91 extends between and is secured to the lever 93 and ties them rigidly together. A shaft 98 is journaled in downwardly projecting arms 89 of the levers $3 and has a detent or pawl Hi8 formed intermediate the latter for engagement with one of the teeth of the bar 8-5. The detent has a, face Etta adapted to engage one of the tooth faces 235a. Levers Hll secured to the shaft 98 are adapted to turn the latter so that the detent is brought into position for engaging a tooth when the levers 93 pass dead center. The levers it! normally bear against the pin 39 and are thus actuated when the levers 8! swing outwardly.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that, as the cradle turns, the first operation will be the lowering of the clamp as above explain'd. Next, the counterweights on the levers 81 cause them to move clockwise, thereby lifting thelevers NH and turning the detent 10f! into locking position. The detent does not engage a tooth on the bar 85, however, until the cradle has turned through a sufficient angle, say to cause the counterweights 98 on the levers 93 to pass dead center. This throws the detent into engagement with the toothed portion of the bar 85. Locking of the clamps is thus deferred until the ear springs have been relieved of their load.

'The face ifiia of the detent will not come against the face the of the tooth, except perhaps fortuitously. This engagement is obtained, however, on further turning of the cradle such as to cause the bell cranks se to turn clockwise. The eccentric slots 95 thereof move the pin 94 downwardly in its slots a in the side plates 86 carrying the levers 93 and the detent lilli with it, until the lower face of the detent firmly engages a tooth face 85a.

When the cradle has been turned to the position shown in Figure 8, the clamps 33 hold the car tightly. The mechanical advantage of the linkage including the detent mil, the pin 94 and the slots 95 in the levers 96' is such that the ,counterweights 92 need not be excessively heavy in order, with the aid of the friction in the moving parts, to prevent releasing movement of the clamps.

On reversal of the cradle, the levers first return to normal, relieving the holding pressure of the detent on the tooth of the bar 85. Thereafter, the levers 93 swing back moving the detent bodily away from the bar and finally the plates iii swing toward the clamp permitting the levers lfll to swing downwardly and turn the detent into releasing position. After the clamp has thus been fully unlocked, the engagement of roller 52 with Car clamps on driving side and mechanism for operating and locking them The clamps 34 on the driving side of the car and the locking mechanism thereof are generally similar to the clamps 33 and their locking mechanism, as shown in Figures 13 through 18. Each clamp 34 slides on a cross beam I05 extending between the longitudinal members I4 and I5. Arms I08 extending outwardly from the shank of the clamp have a roller I'I journaled therein which rides on the outer flange of the beam I05. A bar was on the clamp shank has teeth formed in a portion thereof for engagement by a locking detent.

The clamp 34 is normally held in uplifted position by a rope I08, reeved somewhat similar to the rope 85 for operating clamp 33. The rope I08 is dead-ended on the cradle at one end and extends around a sheave I09 on a counterweight H3 sliding on an arm III pivoted to the cradle. The rope then extends around a sheave II2 turnin on the pivotal axis of the arm Ill and thence around a sheave II3 on the cradle and a sheave 59 on an arm 60 pivoted to the cradle. Thence the rope extends around a guide sheave II4 on the cradle and a sheave H5 mounted on the longitudinal member IS. The rope then travels around a pair of sheaves H5 journaled on brackets ll'i secured to the lower end of the clamp 34. The rope then extends upwardly around a sheave II8 mounted on the longitudinal member I4 and thence downwardly to a counterweight H9 traveling between uides I20.

As in the case of the clamps 33, the clamps 35 are held in their uplifted position by the counterweights H9. When the cradle starts to turn, movement of the arm 00 slacks the rope I08, permitting the counterweight II9 to drop to the bottom of its path, after which further slackening of the rope permits the clamp 34 to descend until its hook portion 35 engages the upper edge of the side of the car. Thereafter, the counterweight IIO takes up any further slack created in the rope I08 until the lever 60 reaches its limit of movement.

Referring now more particularly to Figures through 18, the clamp-locking mechanism is mounted on a pair of spaced side plates I2I secured to the longitudinal member I5 and depending therefrom. A roller I0ia journaled in these plates engages the inner face of the shank of the clamp. Downwardly extending levers I22 having counterweights l22a are pivoted to brackets I23 secured to the longitudinal member I5. Each lever I22 is connected by a link I24 to one of a pair of links I25 pivoted to brackets I26 secured to the longitudinal member I5 and spaced outwardly from the plates I2I. Rollers 2i journaled between each pair of links I25 operate levers I28 secured to a shaft I29 having a detent I30 adapted to engage the teeth on the bar I08a. The shaft I29 is journaled in downwardly and laterally extending levers I3I pivoted on a pin I32. The levers I3I are connected by a cross bar I3Ia and have portions I3Ib provided with counterweights Isle. The ends of the pin I32 extend through slots I 2Ia in the side plates I2I parallel to the clamp shank and also through eccentric slots I33 in the arms I34 of bell cranks I35 having counterweights 8 I31. The bell cranks I35 are pivoted to the side plates I2I on a pin I30.

The operation of the locking mechanism for the clamps 34 is generally similar to that of the corresponding mechanism for the clamps 33. Referring to Figures 13 and 14, it will be noted that, as the cradle turns counterclockwise, the clamp 34 descends into engagement with the upper edge of the side of the car as explained above. After the cradle has turned through a small angle, the counterweights I22a become effective to swing the levers I22 clockwise. This causes the links I25 to swing clockwise and the resulting movement of the pins I21 tilts the levers I28 counterclockwise, thereby turning the face I30a of the detent I30 into position for engaging the face IIOa of one of the teeth on the bar l08a. After continued rotation of the cradle through an angle of about sufiicient to relieve the car springs of their load, levers I3I are tilted clockwise by their counterweights l3Ic. This moves the detent bodily toward the toothed bar H0. The face I301; of the detent will not firmly engage a cooperatin tooth face IIOa, except perhaps fortuitously. Further rotation of the cradle, however, swings the bell cranks I35 clockwise and the eccentricity of the slots 633 therein forces the pin I 32 downwardly in the slots I2Ia in the plates IZI, thereby bringing the face I30a of the detent into firm engagement with the tooth face IIOa.

It will thus be apparent that the clamps 34 are automatically caused to engage the car and look only after the cradle has turned through an angle of aboutSO". The clamps move upwardly a few inches as the car springs expand and the clamps are therefore under little or no tension when the cradle returns to normal position and may easilybe unlocked and raised. In the reverse rotation of the cradle, the bell cranks I35 first release the detent I30 from engagement with the face of a tooth on the bar 508a. Thereafter, the levers I3I move the detent bodily away from the bar 108a and then the levers I22 swing the links I25 outwardly permitting the levers I28 to turn the detent I30 back to the position in which it is shown in Figure 1'7. Next, the engagement of the roller 62 with abutment 63 causes the lever 60 to take up on the rope I08. This first lifts the counterweight III) to the limit of its movement, then raises the clamp 34 and finally lifts the counterweight II9 slightly above the bottom of its track.

It will be evident from the foregoing that the invention provides a car dumper having clamps and side supports characterized by numerous advantages over similar structures known previously. The car clamps are efiective to engage the sides of the car despite variations in height and hold it firmly to the cradle on rotation thereof. Th clamps are positively locked by mechanical means so that the car is safely held even of the contents be frozen. While counterweights are employed for tensioning cables and actuating the locking pawls, they are not relied on to exert the holding force. The side supports are also held in operative position by mechanical locking means against any possibility of yielding until the dumper is righted. The clamps and sid sills are wholly automatic, their ope-ration being controlled solely by rotation of the cradle. The counterweight levers for operating the locking mechanism are simple, effective and not likely to get out of order, so that proper operation is practically assured at all times.

Although I have illustrated and described but a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be recognized that changes in the details of the construction disclosed may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a rotary car dumper having a cradle adapted to receive a car and rotate about its own longitudinal axis and having side sills mounted on one side of the cradle adapted to move inwardly into engagement with a side of a car in th cradle, the improvement in means for moving the sills comprising toggle links connected to the sills and to the cradle, a lever pivoted adjacent one end and rotated about its pivot by rotation of the cradle, and means operatively connecting the free end of the lever to the toggle links whereby rotation of the lever causes movement of said toggle links to move the sills against th car.

2. In a rotary car dumper having a cradle adapted to receive a car and rotate about its own longitudinal axis and having side sills mounted on one side of the cradle adapted to move inwardly into engagement with a side of a car in the cradle, the improvement in means for moving the sills comprising toggle links pivotally connected to the sills and to a vertically slidable bar whereby lowering the bar moves the sills towards the car, and means for holding the bar in its uppermost position when the cradle is at rest and allowing the bar to move downwardly upon rotation of the cradle.

3. In a rotary 'car dumper having a cradle adapted to receive a car and rotate about its own longitudinal axis and having side sills mounted on one side of the cradle adapted to move inwardly into engagement with a side of a car in the cradle, the improvement in means for moving the sills comprising toggle links pivotally connected to the sills and to a vertically slidable bar whereby lowering the bar moves the sills towards the car, a lever pivoted adjacent one end and rotated about its pivot by rotation of the cradle and a cable secured to the bar and operatively connected to the lever whereby rotation of the lever creates slack in the cable and 'permits lowering of the bar..

4. In a rotary car dumper having a cradle adapted to receive a car and rotate about its own longitudinal axis and having side sills mounted on one side of the cradle adapted to move inwardly into engagement with a side of a car in the cradle, the improvement in means for moving the sills comprising toggle links pivotally connected to the sills and to a vertically slidable bar whereby lowering the bar moves the sills towards the car, means for holding the bar in its uppermost position when the cradle is at rest and allowing the bar to move downwardly upon rotation of the cradle, ratchet teeth on the bar, and a pawl actuated by rotation of the cradle to engage the ratchet teeth and to restrain upward movement of the bar during dumping movement of the cradle.

5. In a rotary car dumper having a cradle adapted to receive a car and rotate about its own longitudinal axis and having side sills mounted on one side of the cradle adapted to move inwardly into engagement with a side of a car in the cradle, and means for moving the sills, the improvement comprising a lever pivoted adjacent one end and rotated about its pivot by rotation of the cradle, a cable operatively connected to the til) sill moving means and to a counterweight, said cable also being operatively connected to the lever whereby rotation of the lever releases the cable and initiates operation of the sill moving means.

6. In a rotary car dumper having a cradle adapted to receive a car and rotate about its own longitudinal axis and a clamp for holding the car on the cradle, the improvement in means for locking the clamp including a toothed bar on the I clamp, a rotatable and shiftable detentlfor engaging the bar, counterweight means for turne ing the detent into bar-holding position, counterweight means for shifting the detent toward the bar, and counterweight means for shifting the detent along the bar until it firmly engages the face of a tooth, said counterweight means operating successively as the cradle rotates to dump a car therein. I

7. In a rotary car dumper having a cradle adapted to receive a car and rotate about its own longitudinal axis and a clamp for holding the car on the cradle, the improvement in means for locking the clamp including a toothed bar on the clamp, a rotatable and shiftable detent for engaging the bar, a lever for turning said detent into bar-holding position, a counterweight lever for actuating said first mentioned lever, and a counterweight lever on which said detent is journaled for shifting said detent toward said bar, said counterweight levers operating successively as the cradle rotates to dump a car therein.

8. In a rotary car dumper having a cradle adapted to receive a car and rotate about its own longitudinal axis and a clamp for holding the car on the cradle, the improvement in means for looking the clamp including a toothed bar on the clamp, a rotatable and shiftable detent for engaging the bar, a lever for turning said detent into bar-holding position, a counterweight lever for actuating said first mentioned lever, and a counterweight lever on which said detent is journaled for shifting said detent toward said bar, counterweight bell cranks pivotally mounting said lever in which the detent is journaled, said bell cranks having eccentric means effective on swinging of the bell cranks to shift said lever and the detent until the detent firmly engages the face of a tooth of said bar, said counterweight levers and bell cranks operating successively as the cradle rotates to dump a car therein.

9. In a rotary car dumper having a cradle adapted to receive a car and rotate about its own longitudinal axis and a clamp for holding the car on the cradle, the improvement in means for locking the clamp including a toothed bar, a detent having a cut-out portion adapted to extend around the teeth of the bar and a tooth engaging face adapted to engage a tooth of the bar upon rotation of the detent, and counterweight means operating successively on rotation of the cradle for turning the detent into holding position, shifting it toward the bar and forcing it against a tooth thereof.

ROBERT L. GLOVER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

